Ad Pioneer Charlotte Beers to Speak at Inforum's 50th Annual Meeting
DETROIT -- If your goal is to be an agent for real change, it's good to be the boss. That's the message Charlotte Beers – one of the first female corporate leaders and one of the most influential figures in American advertising – has for American women.
Nicknamed "the queen of Madison Avenue," Beers is the legendary advertising CEO of Ogilvy & Mather and Tatham-Laird & Kudner. She graced the cover of Fortune magazine as one of America's most influential women. From 2001 to 2003, she served as Undersecretary of State for Public Diplomacy & Public Affairs and was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, the State Department's highest honor.
As the keynote speaker at Inforum's historic 50th annual meeting May 17, she will talk about the need for female leadership and why, for their own sakes, women should insist on a place at the table in business, government and other spheres of American life. Getting there, Beers says, requires women to first acknowledge their own potential.
"I am an ardent believer that women must forge their own paths to a deeper self-belief," Beers said, "because it is self-esteem that allows women to be persuasive and influential at work. Too many women have no idea how much power they truly have, or how valuable their perspectives can be to an organization."
Beers believes that right now is "the era of forging ahead for women" and wants to teach her strategies and know-how to develop a workplace where women are able to shatter glass ceilings and excel in the C-Suite. She conducts seminars throughout Europe and the United States called "The X Factor," "X" representing the potential of women to lead.
"Charlotte Beers is a legend in business," said Terry Barclay, president and CEO of Inforum and Inforum Center for Leadership. "She had the courage to enter a field run by men and the vigilance to become one of the most respected names in the industry. Her message to women leaders is perfectly aligned with Inforum's mission as we look toward the next 50 years."
In addition to the keynote address by Beers, the annual meeting also will include the announcement of the 2012-13 Inforum Board of Directors. The event also will recognize the directors of Inforum Center for Leadership, the education and research arm of Inforum.
"Inforum would not be celebrating 50 years without the legacy of strong volunteer leadership," Barclay said. "One of the great pleasures of my job is working with the extraordinary women who serve on our boards. As always, Inforum's annual meeting will take the time to honor and thank those who contribute so much to our success."
The event runs from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thursday, May 17 at the Ford Conference & Event Center, 1151 Village Road, Dearborn. Tickets are $55 for Inforum members, $70 for nonmembers, or $700 for a table of 10 (reserved seating); $900 premier table of 10 (reserved seating, logo recognition, four tickets to VIP reception).
For more information, visit www.inforummichigan.org or call (877) 633-3500.
